wendish news WENDISHW HERITA GE SOCIETY A USTRALIA

NUMBER 63 SEPTEMBER 2019

Clockwise from top left: 1. The Sorbian choir “Budyšin” C o n t e n t s at the unveiling of the Schütze memorial at Rachlau (see p.10). 2. Kevin Zwar at his retirement luncheon (see 1. Calendar of Upcoming Events...... 2 p.11). 3. Our Tour group at the grave of Andreas Kappler in Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mount Gambier (see pp. 3–7) 2. Past Events...... 3 3. Library ...... 8 Invitation to Annual Luncheon 4. Research ...... 10 You are warmly invited, along with family and 5. General News...... 11 friends, to attend our Annual Luncheon on 6. Items from other societies’ journals. 11 Saturday 26 October in Ballarat, Victoria. See booking details on page 2. 7. Birthdays...... 12

8. Directory ...... 12 Calendar of upcoming events

Annual Luncheon, 170th Anniversary of the Arrival of Saturday 26 October 2019 the Pribislaw, 26 April 2020 Our Annual Luncheon will be held at the Lady This celebration will take place at Ziebell’s Barkly room, Barkly Motorlodge, 43 Main Road, Farmhouse, 100 Gardenia Rd, Thomastown, Vic. Bakery Hill, Ballarat, Victoria. All are welcome. All descendants of Pribislaw passengers are invited. Time: 12.00 for a 12.30pm start, Saturday 26 There were about 50 Wends who came to Australia October 2019. on the Pribislaw, which was named after the last Cost: Approx. $30.00 per person, to be paid on the Wendish prince, who died in 1174. The ship was day by individual attendees. built in Ribnitz in Mecklenburg. The Bernstein Please book by Monday 14 October 2019 by contacting: Museum at Ribnitz has kindly arranged to build Glenys Wollermann, Telephone: (03) 9891 6652 or a scale model of the ship for Ziebell’s Farmhouse Email: [email protected] Museum. It will be unveiled at this Anniversary cel- Bookings are essential. ebration. Ziebell’s Farmhouse (c.1850–51) is at 100 Gardenia Goethe Plaque Dedication, Road, Thomastown, Vic. It is Victoria’s oldest German immigrant building. From 20 October 2019 it will be open Sunday 24 November 2019 to the public every Sunday from 11.30am–3.00pm. The unveiling and dedication of a memorial plaque will take place at 2.00 pm on Sunday 24 November Tour to South Australia, May 2020 at Grave site 13 in the “Other Denominations” sec- Planning is underway for Lyall Kupke to lead our tion B at Melbourne General Cemetery. group on a tour of Wendish sites. The tour will The plaque will record the nine young children take place in May 2020, to coincide with South who were buried in this unmarked grave in the Australia’s History Festival. Please note that this years 1854-1871. They include three daughters of will replace our usual Labour Day weekend tour. Pastor Matthias and Mrs Harriet Goethe, of Trinity More details will be provided in the next Newsletter. German Lutheran Church, East Melbourne; one For enquiries and bookings, contact: daughter of Pastor Johann Peter and Mrs Annie Betty Huf, Telephone: (03) 5572 4959 Niquet of St John’s Lutheran Church, Ballarat; Email: [email protected] and five infant children of Carl and Wilhelmine Golgerth. Members of AKi (the Historical Society of Trinity German Lutheran Church) and members of FoLAV (the Friends of Lutheran Archives Victoria) formed a “Goethe Plaque Working Group” to undertake this project. The group is grateful for the generos- ity of donors who have made this project possible: Trinity German Lutheran congregation, Doncaster- Ivanhoe Lutheran congregation, Wendish Heritage Society Australia, Friends of Westgarthtown, Friends of Lutheran Archives Victoria and Doncaster- Templestowe Historical Society.

Annual General Meeting, Saturday 14 March 2020 Our Society’s AGM will be held at 1.30 pm, fol- lowed by afternoon tea. All are welcome. The venue is our meeting room at St Aidan’s Community Centre, 12 Surrey St, Box Hill South, Victoria. Betty Huf at the Family History Expo in Hamilton (see p. 7). Photo supplied by Rob Wuchatsch.

2 1. Early settler’s limestone cottage, home of the Hirth family, Mount Gambier. 2. Replica of the brig “HMS Lady Nelson” at the Mount Gambier Visitor Centre. Past events Labour Day Weekend Tour to Mount Gambier, 9–11 March 2019 The tour to the Mount Gambier area of South ily displayed great care and compassion towards the Australia, led by Betty Huf, was a resounding local Boandik Aborigines, by establishing a home success. A total of 24 people attended part or all and a school for them. Although James died in 1860, of the activities on the itinerary. It was wonderful Christina continued to rear their seven children and to see some “first timers” on the tour. Below is care for the sick and needy in the area, including the John Noack’s report. Aborigines. She died in April 1893 and was buried 1. The “Lady Nelson” Visitor and Discovery in the Mount Gambier Cemetery. Centre was an informative location for this tour to 3. Mount Gambier’s RSL Museum provided a begin. There were many colorful tourist brochures sad reminder that wars are waged at a great cost in on display and the large replica of the brig “HMS money and in human lives. It has been estimated Lady Nelson” recalled the very important role per- that 180 million people were killed in the World formed by this ship from 1800 until its destruction Wars and in other conflicts during the 1900s. This by fire in 1824. In 1800, captained by Lieutenant local RSL Museum displayed reminders of sand-bag James Grant, this brig became the first ship to sail shelters; of very large and cumbersome radios and of from the west through Bass Strait. Two mountains the feared Nazi flag and emblem. However, it was which were sighted inland were named after Lord interesting to read the displayed article “Rommel’s Gambier and Captain Schank. This area was first War without Hate”, (or “Krieg Ohne Hass”), which named “Gambierton” and later, “Mount Gambier”. depicts Field Marshal Erwin Rommel as a sort of 2. Christina Smith was featured here in an “Gentleman General”, who preferred to engage in impressive hologram video presentation. The holo- “chivalrous conduct” and “soldierly honor”. He gram image of Christina Smith steps out of a wed- pursued this aim [1] by insisting that all of his cap- ding photograph to tell the story of early contact tured soldiers were given exactly the same rations between settlers and Aboriginal people. Christina of food as his own soldiers and also [2] by ensur- (nee Menzies) and her husband James were the first ing that captured hospitals and their doctors were European settlers in this area. They migrated to able to continue treatment of their injured patients. Australia from Scotland in about 1840. In 1846, they The doctors were then repatriated through neutral settled at the Rivoli Bay sea-port. This Smith fam- Switzerland.

3 Past events… continued

Clockwise from top left: 1. Umpherston Sinkhole or “sunken garden”. 2. Meischel Park plaque. 3. Our Tour group at Blue Lake Pumping Station. 4. Meischel Park Cemetery plaque.

4. The Umpherston Sinkhole or “sunken garden” The Mount Gambier Local Council assumed was a part of the property of James Umpherston, responsibility for this Cemetery in the 1970s and by who settled in this area in 1860. By 1884, he had 1986, this Cemetery became Meischel Park, being developed this Sinkhole into a pleasant resort for named after its second Pastor. The plaque lists the his family and also for the townspeople of Mount 76 burials between 1864 and 1907. These include Gambier. Sinkholes appear when rainwater, which such surnames as Fiedler, Kalms, Koehler, Krause, absorbs carbon dioxide from decaying vegetation, Kreig, Kuehne, Lange, Leschke, Lindner, Meyer, then forms into carbonic acid, which soaks into and Mueller, Nitschke, Noske, Paschke, Patzel, dissolves the limestone’s calcite or calcium carbonate Pfeiffer, Pohlner, Proposch, Roesler, Ruwoldt, below the surface. When the underlying limestone Schluder, Schubert, Vorwerk and Zippel. eventually collapses, a large sinkhole appears. 6. The Lake Terrace Cemetery is preserv- 5. Meischel Park was called the “Boandik ing the grave and the memory of Pastor Andreas Lutheran Cemetery”, before about the year 1980. Kappler. He left his Wendish homeland and his It had been used by the ELCA (the Evangelical parish of Weissenberg in , in 1848, in Lutheran Church of Australia) from 1864 to 1907. order to serve the pastoral needs of the Saxon and This Boandik Congregation was originally estab- Prussian Wends and others, who had made Australia lished by Pastor C.W. Schürmann in 1859. From their new home. He spent much time and effort in 1863 to 1878, Pastor J.F. Meischel served this locating the Lutherans over a very wide area and congregation. Pastor J.E. Hansen was the next kept meticulous and detailed baptism and marriage Pastor, from 1880-1912. However, as most families records of the people he served. shifted elsewhere, the congregation closed in 1907. In 1860 Kappler visited Mount Gambier. Dr However, this ELCA branch began renewed activi- Edward Wehl persuaded him to stay. Kappler ties in the 1930s and St Matthew’s Congregation was remained Pastor at St Martin’s Lutheran Church established in 1948. until his death in 1877. His tombstone states:

4 Clockwise from left: 1. Betty Huf and Glenys Wollermann placing tributes on Kappler’s grave. 2. St Martin’s Lutheran Church. 3. Interior of “Dingley Dell” cottage. 4. Some of Adam Lindsary Gordon’s belongings on display in “Dingley Dell” cottage. 5. Patzel, Ruwoldt and Lindner headstones at St Martin’s Lutheran Church.

In Memory of Andreas Kappler, Lutherischer Pastor out of gratitude, to practise philanthropy and to be an [at] der Martini Kirche in Mount Gambier. Geboren generous, especially to the poor and needy. A finger- [Born] in Klein Hahnchen in Sachsen am 5th November food meal supplied by St Martin’s Congregation was 1802. Gestorben [Died] am 3rd Juni 1877. Sanft ruhe followed by two presentations, one on the Wends seine Asche. [His ashes are resting peacefully]. in Lusatia and in Australia and the other on the Because his tombstone does not feature his min- Germans of the Mount Gambier district. istry to Australia’s pioneering Wendish settlers, 8. Early German Pioneering Settlers, including our Society is discussing the provision of a plaque their lives and times in the Mount Gambier District, to commemorate Andreas Kappler’s standing as were featured on a PowerPoint presentation. It Australia’s only Wendish pastor. As a fitting trib- revealed that Stephen Henty of Merino Downs vis- ute to Kappler, arrangements of Australian gum ited this area in 1839 and grazed cattle here. The first leaves and Lusatian linden leaves were placed on the permanent settler may have been Johann F. Tollner grave by President Betty Huf and Secretary Glenys in 1849. In 1852, Wendish families, such as the Wollermann. Albert, Burger, Deutscher, Hundrack, Petschel and 7. St Martin’s Lutheran Church provided the Rentsch families passed through this area on their venue for our Saturday evening’s activities. On its wagon-trek to Portland. Later in 1859, Johan & foundation stone is recorded: To the Glory of God. Joachim Ruwoldt trekked overland from Adelaide The Foundation Stone of this Church was laid by Dr W. to settle in this area, along with dozens of others. Wehl, 21st Jan 1862. The Church was dedicated by the In 1864, the settlers founded a German Club and Rev A. Kappler, 5th Oct 1862. in 1868, they formed a Liedertafel. In 1869, a jewel- Pastor Colin Huf conducted a worship service ler named J.M. Wendt set up his business and later which drew on the sentiments of an 1896 Harvest in the 1880s, Johannes Matthias Jens set up his well- Festival Thanksgiving Service. This service had known hotel business. Our Tour participants were stressed both the need to receive blessings but then, able to enjoy the hospitality provided by Jens Hotel.

5 Past events… continued

1. “Dingley Dell”, Adam Lindsay Gordon’s cottage near Port MacDonnell, S.A. 2. Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833–1870). 3. Our Tour group walking through a tunnel at the Blue Lake Pumping Station.

9. Adam Lindsay Gordon came to Australia from 11. The Cape Northumberland Lighthouse England in 1853 and became known as a creative remains were also interesting. This is the site of a poet and a competent, but cavalier, horseman. He is monument to the gallantry of Benjamin Germein, renowned for his feat of leaping on horseback over who was the first Lighthouse Keeper from 1859 to an old post and rail guard fence onto a narrow ledge 1865. Germein was the first to reach and save lives overlooking Blue Lake, and then jumping back from the wrecks of the ships Admella in 1859 and the onto the roadway. The site of this daring riding feat John Ormerod in 1861. The lighthouse experienced is known as “Gordon’s Leap”. It is marked by an constant, extremely windy conditions and was even- obelisk in memory of Adam Lindsay Gordon. tually shifted further inland. “Dingley Dell” near Port MacDonnell, Gordon’s 12. The Blue Lake Pumping Station Aquifer property and home from 1862-66, is preserved as a supplies water to the town and to surrounding areas. museum. It displays early volumes of his poetry, per- Water has been pumped from here since 1883. The sonal effects and his horse-riding equipment. Lake turns a vivid blue colour from late November Gordon is honored by having his bust displayed in through to March each year. From April through Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey in London and to November the water turns a dull grey. Our tour with a Statue near Parliament House in Melbourne. group travelled in a glass panelled lift down the In one of his poems called Ye Wearie Wayfarer, original well shaft, then walked through an 80 metre Gordon wisely states: “Life is mostly froth and bub- tunnel to a viewing platform close to water level. ble, Two things stand like stone. Kindness in anoth- The display of the water-pressure, with its powerful er’s trouble, Courage in your own.” spray, is certainly impressive. 10. The Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum 13. The Engelbrecht Cave Tour enabled Tour many displays vividly depicted the occupations and participants to inspect the Sinkhole and to descend the living conditions of this area’s pioneering set- below the busy streets of Mount Gambier after tak- tlers. Port MacDonnell was proclaimed a port by the ing the required 164 steps down. It has obtained its Governor, Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, in 1860. name from Johann Carl Engelbecht (1833-1914) However, before this date, this area featured sheep, who was born in Magdeburg, and came to grain and dairy farming; stripping wattle trees and Australia in 1857. He settled in Mount Gambier in carting wattle bark (which was heated, made into 1865 and set up a distillery in 1885. powder and used during the tanning process); manu- Today this picturesque cave is popular with tourists facturing hats from soft rabbits’ fur; loading goods at and also attracts certified cave divers from around the the Port and fell-mongering, which involved prepar- world. However, we were informed that during the ing sheep skins for tanning. latter half of the 1800s, this cave was used as a rub- Displays tell the story of over 30 ships which bish dump by its owner, Engelbrecht, and by other came to grief along the rugged local coastline in the town residents. It continued to be used as a rubbish 19th century. The museum houses a model of the dump until the 1950s. In 1979 the local Lions Club Admella, which was wrecked in 1859, killing 89 pas- commenced the huge task of removing the rubbish, sengers. This was one of the worst maritime disasters a three year project. In 1995 Engelbrecht Cave was in Australia. added to the South Australian Heritage Register.

6 the areas of our Annual Dinner, our March Tour, our Newsletters and Website, our Library and our Treasury and Secretarial portfolios. Their efforts on behalf of the Society are gratefully appreciated. Treasurer Robert Wuchatsch presented the Annual Financial Statement for 2018. He reported that we had a successful year. The total credit monies held in accounts as at 31 December 2018 was $18,314.80. This was an increase of $1,781.74 since the previous year. It was decided that there will be no increase in membership fees for the coming year. Robert explained that there are three people involved in looking after the finances: Glenys (Secretary) collects Rugged coastline at Port MacDonnell, S.A. the mail and sends the cheques to Robert for bank- ing. Clay (Assistant Treasurer) handles the online banking, keeps the membership records up to date and prepares invoices and reminder notices. We are very grateful to Betty Huf for her meticu- BETTY HUF lous planning and organisation of the tour. We also thank the Mount Gambier folk for their special con- Thank you to our donors tributions towards this very memorable weekend: We sincerely thank our members who have made Vic and Kathy Peucker, Maren and Ed Peucker, donations to the work of our Society, in addition Margaret Peucker and the Lutheran Ladies Guild to paying for their memberships. The following and Mary Arthurson. are the members whose donations were received John Noack from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019: We gratefully acknowledge John Noack, Mick Ampt and R. Albert; G. Allen; J. Ballinger; R. S. Bee; R. June Winter for contributing photos of the Mount Gambier Bransdon-Parkes; D. Brown; J. Burger; P. A. Burger; Tour. Special thanks to John Noack for his Tour report. R. Butler; C. Comas; M. E. Dalziel; B. Davies; D. Deutscher; P. Eagles; G. Escreet; C. Freeman; E. Annual General Meeting, Gorman; C. Green; H. Handreck; N. Hattwich; E. Hayden; S. Hayward; D. Herbig; R. C. Heussler; J. & Saturday 6 April 2019 A. Hoffmann; C. & B. Huf; J. & A. Keller; G. Kelly; We are pleased to report that our AGM on 6 A. Koch; T. Humphries; J. Kollosche; M. Kramer; K. April was very successful. We thank those who Lehmann; J. Lange; A. Lueders; N. Miller; T. Modra; attended the Meeting or appointed proxies and C. Moulder; B. & M. Nagorcka; J. Pearce; S. Pfeiffer; those who sent greetings and messages of support. A. Proposch; L. Proposch; T. Proposch; P. Richardson; We had 23 people in attendance, 5 apologies M. K. Robson; N. Rose; B. Ross; E. Rouch; J. Scheetz; and 44 proxies. The main item of business was the M. C. Scheetz; J. Schilg; S. & A. Simpfendorfer; G. Motion to adopt the “2012 Model Rules for an Uebergang; B. Van Elst; J. Williams; J. D. & S. M. Incorporated Association” for our Society. We are Zwar. very pleased to report that this Motion was carried Please note: Membership invoices for 2020 are unanimously. enclosed with this Newsletter. The following Office Bearers and Committee Members were re-elected: President Betty Huf; Family History Expo in Hamilton, Vice-President John L. Modra; Secretary Glenys Wollermann; Treasurer Rob Wuchatsch; 1 June 2019: Committee Members Janice Blackburn, Joel The Victorian Association of Family History Blackburn, Mary Cooper, Clay Kruger, Beryl Organisations (VAFHO) held an Expo at Monivae Nagorcka and Moira Nagorcka. College, Hamilton, Victoria on Saturday 1 June. In her President’s Report, Betty Huf examined the We are grateful to Betty Huf for booking and set- 10 aims of our Society, as set out in our Rules, and ting up a display table for our Society. Colin Huf and gave a detailed outline of how each of these aims Robert Wuchatsch also attended the Expo. Betty has been achieved. Betty thanked all Committee displayed her maps of Upper and Lower Lusatia, members for their support and for their contribu- family history books and copies of Wendish news. tion to the successful functioning of our Society in

7 Library

The following is Janice Blackburn’s report of three new acquisitions:

Mount Gambier: the city around a cave; photographs from the author’s collection, by Les R. Hill. Les Hill, (1912–1999), compiler of this history of his home town, Mount Gambier in South Australia, was a descendent of Joseph and Maria Hill who, with their eight chil- dren, arrived in Port Adelaide from England in 1854. One of their sons, Samuel, and his wife, Louisa, grandparents of the author, came to settle in Mount Gambier in 1873. Les Hill had a passionate and life-long interest in family and local history. He was also a keen collector of old photographs, many of which are included in this book. It also contains a comprehensive list of the early pioneers of the district, including a large number of German settlers. The biggest influx was in the middle and late 1850’s and these new arrivals soon began to take a prominent part in public affairs. The earliest German settlers include Reineke, Vorwerk, Schmidt, Studemann, Ruwoldt, Sturm, Lange, Schinkel, Lindner, Krummel, Unger and Wehl. Dr. Edward (Eduard) Wehl, one of the most notable of the early German settlers, was born in Germany in 1824 and arrived in Mount Gambier in 1849. He was in medi- cal practice for a number of years, started the first flour mill in 1857, was elected first Chairman of the District Council of Mount Gambier in 1863, and was connected with various societies in the town. He was also a great benefactor of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church and laid the foundation stone in 1862. The Wehl name is perpetuated in the town in Wehl Street. Les Hill’s legacy also continues in the Les Hill History Room at the Mount Gambier Public Library, the repository for a vast archive of family history.

Seeds of blessings: history of the Lutheran Church in Mount Gambier:1862 St. Martin’s 2012; Boandik 1859-1900; St. Matthews 1948–1967, compiled by mem- bers of St. Martin’s Church 150th Anniversary Committee. This book was published in 2012 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the dedication in 1862 of St. Martin’s Church. In 1860 the church at Boandik was dedicated and these two churches combined in 1900 as St. Martin’s. In 1948 a new congregation was formed known as “The Evangelical Lutheran St. Matthews Congregation of Mount Gambier”. Their first church was dedicated in 1953. This congregation amalgamated with St. Martin’s in 1968 to form the current St. Martin’s congregation. Included in this book is a short biography and photograph of all of the pastors who have served in these three churches. Most notable from a Wendish point of view is Pastor Andreas Kappler, the first pastor of St. Martin’s and the first Wendish pastor in Australia. He was born in Saxony, Germany in 1802 and left Weissenburg, near , in Saxony in 1848 to sail for Australia with his wife and six children, arriving in November, 1848. Kappler cared for a number of “German Protestant” congregations being formed in Adelaide and Hahndorf, and conducted services in Tanunda, Burra, and various other places. He first visited Mt. Gambier in 1860 and was prevailed upon by prominent citi- zen, Doctor Eduard Wehl, to stay. This led to his appointment as the first pastor of St. Martin’s. This book has numerous illustrations, including photographs of some of the German pio- neer members of the church.

8 The German-speaking community of Victoria between 1850 and 1930: origin, progress and decline, by Volkhard Wehner. In the course of the seventy-five years preceding World War 1, over six million Germans emigrated. Of these, approximately seventy thousand came to Australia where, until World War 1, they constituted the largest non-Anglo minority, and, in Victoria, at the time of Australian Federation in 1901, German immigrants made up two per cent of the population. The immigration of Germans to Victoria commenced in 1849-50, and resulted in the for- mation of a number of settlements in and around Melbourne, Geelong, and the Western District of Victoria. This thesis investigates the factors which helped or hindered the emergence of a cohesive German community with particular reference to its East-Elbian origins, the role played by the Lutheran Church, and the various associations formed by the community, the character of its leadership, and the attitude of the Anglo host com- munity towards their fellow German settlers. The thesis also examines a number of major events that impacted on both communities and changed their relationship with each other - from the discovery of gold in the 1850’s to the war induced tensions of World War 1. The different development paths of rural and urban settlements also receive special attention in the discussion of whether rural communities were more resilient and better able to survive than were urban communities. We thank Volkhard Wehner for his generous donation of a copy of this publication to our Library. In our March 2018 edition of Wendish news we congratulated him on the award of his PhD from the University of Melbourne. Our library also has a copy of another of Volkhard Wehner’s works: “Heimat Melbourne: a history of the German- speaking community of Melbourne, 1855–1865”.

Janice Blackburn, Librarian Photos of Book Covers: Joel Blackburn

Book for sale: Shores of hope: Wends go overseas by Trudla Malinkowa This is the English translation of the book Ufer der Hoffnung about Wendish/Sorbian migration to Australia and to Texas. It won the 2010 Concordia Historical Institute’s Award. Our Society has copies available for purchase, for $40.00 plus postage. Contact Clay Kruger – Telephone (03) 8838 8737 or Email: wendsociety1@ optusnet.com.au or [email protected]. Please make cheques or money orders payable to “Wendish Heritage Soc. Aust. Inc.” or contact Clay for EFT payment details. The Wend / Sorb Society of South Aust. also has copies available, for $40.00 plus postage. Contact: Ruth Walter, 43 Clifton St, Prospect S.A. 5082. Telephone (08) 8269 7168 or Email: [email protected] Please make cheques or money orders payable to “Wend Sorb Society of S.A.” or email Ruth for direct debit (EFT) details. These are the last copies available. A reprint is not expected at this stage. Copies of the book Five Centuries: the Wends and the Reformation are also available for purchase from Ruth Walter.

Seeking the Budarick family history book Neville Gibbs would like to purchase a copy of Budarick: Wends from Lusatia, 1855–1998 by Doreen M. Davis. If you know of the availability of this book, please contact Neville Gibbs by email: [email protected] or by phone (03) 5435 4015.

9 Research

Kevin Zwar remained active in handling research queries, up until his recent retirement (see page 11). In recent months, he answered queries regard- ing the following families: Wurst, Lewitzka and Kschammer. Rob Wuchatsch continues to work on a number of projects, including the celebration in April 2020 of the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the Pribislaw (see page 2). In mid-June, Rob gave a guided tour of the Westgarthtown precinct to Benji Fiedler, a Wendish descendant, and his partner Charlie. They are from Georgetown in Texas. Betty Huf has organised a homeland tour for the Mirtschin and Habel families and friends, to take place in March-April 2020. She also assisted author Unveiling the memorial plaque: Peter and his sister Annette Kevin O’Reilly with research for his book George Schütze, great grandchildren of Karl Traugott Schütze. Mackenzie of Pella. The inhabitants of Rachlau felt that they should John Noack has done the research and other work honour their famous resident so they organized a behind-the-scenes for the Goethe Plaque project memorial, consisting of a rock from the Čornobóh (see page 2). He also answered a Kossatz query and mountain, on which was mounted a memorial a query regarding Samuel Hoffmeister, who was the plaque with an inscription in both Sorbian and inspiration for the swagman in Waltzing Matilda. German. The dedication of the memorial, which was placed in the garden of the school at which Schütze Tribute to Karl Traugott Schütze had taught, took place on 25 August 2018. The (Korla Bohuwěr Šěca), Wendish author, main speech was delivered by Professor Bernhard teacher and entomologist, Saxony Klausnitzer, a prestigious entomologist from Dresden and an authority on the lifework of Schütze. A mul- The following article was written by Arnd Sobe of berry tree was planted beside the memorial to rep- , Saxony and edited by Betty Huf. resent Schutze’s interest in the rearing of silkworms. Karl Traugott Schütze was born in 1858 at Klix The life and lifework of Karl Traugott Schütze and (Klukš) and started his teaching career at Rachlau in his sons, a book compiled for the occasion by Drs 1877 after graduating from the Bautzen (Budyšin) Elizabeth and Ludwig Elle, with information sup- Teachers Institute. In 1881 he married Johanna plied by Professor Klausnitzer, was available for sale. Emilia Albert, and six children were born to the Schütze’s third son, Wladimir (Włodźiměr), is known couple. Besides teaching, Schütze spent a great in the Rachlau area, not only as a teacher and school deal of time pursuing his interest in natural science Principal, but also as a painter and artist. A special and research, especially in the surrounds of Mount exhibition of his artwork, borrowed for this occa- Czorneboh (Čornobóh). He was fascinated by insects, sion, mostly from private collectors, was shown as and became an internationally-renowned entomolo- part of the celebration. gist from his various publications in regard to but- Mr. Marko Schiemann, member of the Saxon terflies. Even today, his entomological writings are Parliament, was the final speaker who expressed in used as a basis for further research. Schütze used his Sorbian and in German his thanks to the local people proficient knowledge of the Sorbian language in for the invitation to attend the festivities. The choir books like Čłowjek w přirodźe which is a popular sci- Budyšin, dressed in their Sorbian costumes, together entific book that is especially well-known amongst with the Hochkirch brass band, embellished the the Sorbian people. As well as having research results ceremony with several Wendish songs and accompa- printed in many publications, Schütze gave lectures nied two Wendish hymns. In a moving tribute, the in both German and Sorbian. In 1920 he retired great-grandchildren of Karl Traugott Schütze also from teaching and died at Rachlau in 1938 at the presented two songs in German, after which all visi- age of 80. He was buried in the Hochkirch (Bukecy) tors enjoyed coffee and cake together. cemetery. Photos supplied by Arnd Sobe

10 General News Left: Robyn, Kevin, Del and Jan Zwar at the luncheon to honour Kevin’s hard work.

he asked me if I still had any of his research emails, which he usually copied to me. Being a hoarder, I was able to find and send him copies of over 800 emails he had sent to very satisfied enquirers. Our Society’s committee recently honoured Kevin and Del with a special luncheon to say ‘Thank You’ for all his hard work over so many years. Their Retirement of Kevin Zwar daughters Robyn and Jan also attended. Robyn has designed our newsletter since 2004. We wish Kevin, Kevin Zwar, who has handled our research enquiries Del and the Zwar family the very best for the future. for many years, recently announced his retirement Robert Wuchatsch from that role for health reasons. Kevin was Foundation President of the Wendish Heritage Society Australia from 1986-1994, when Congratulations to Robert Wuchatsch he and Del moved to Sydney, where he served as Congratulations to Robert Wuchatsch on being Lutheran pastor at Sutherland for ten years. On his awarded equal first place in the Alexander Henderson retirement to Mooroolbark in Melbourne, he served Award for 2018 for his family history book Särka to as our President again in 2006-07, then volunteered Westgarthtown: the Wuchatsch family in Germany and to handle our research enquiries. He also managed Australia. The Book Launch was featured in our our website for several years. March 2019 edition of Wendish news. Robert was In 2017, Kevin’s computer crashed, losing valu- presented with the award at the A.I.G.S./Family able data, including his research files. In desperation, History Connections awards lunch on 27 May 2019. Items from Other Societies’ Journals

New Website for Wend/Sorb Society of September 2019. The Moravians Polka Band will South Australia provide entertainment. It will be a full day of fun The June 2019 issue of the Wend/Sorb Society of activities, great music and tasty food. Our President, South Australia Inc. Newsletter includes an announce- Betty Huf is planning to attend this festival and will ment that the Society now has a website: www. convey greetings from our Society. wendsorbsociety.org.au. The Society is interested in receiving feedback from users. South Australia’s Old Colonists The June 2017 issue of The Black Sheep (Journal of Bendigo newspapers on Trove the East Gippsland Family History Group Inc. and the The April-June 2019 issue of the Bendigo Regional East Gippsland Historical Society Inc.) features an article Genealogical Society Inc. Newsletter features an arti- on photographs of old colonists held by the State cle on the value of newspapers for family history Library of S.A. research. Three of the older Bendigo newspapers Affluent businessman Emanuel Solomon held the which have been digitized on Trove are: The Bendigo first of several banquets in Dec. 1871 in the Adelaide Advertiser 1855–1918; The Bendigo Independent 1891– Town Hall for fellow old colonists who dated their 1918 and Bendigonian 1914–1918. arrival before 1841. Guests visited the photographic See https://trove.nla.gov.au studios of Henry Jones to commemorate the event. Wendish Fest in Texas These links will take you directly to the named The July 2019 issue of the Texas Wendish Heritage photographs, with biographical details: Society Newsletter features the program for the 31st http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+47769 Annual Wendish Fest in Serbin, Texas on 22 http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+19985

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87th Birthday Greetings to Clay Kruger an inspiration to us all! We wish Clay many more Congratulations to our Society’s Assistant Treasurer, years of good health and happiness. Clay Kruger, on celebrating his 87th birthday on 23 80th Birthday Greetings to Janice and Joel July 2019. Blackburn We are very grateful to Clay for his continued Congratulations to both Janice and Joel Blackburn dedication and efficiency in his role as Assistant on reaching this special milestone. Janice’s birthday Treasurer, and also for many other tasks behind was on 2 July and Joel’s is on 24 September. They the scenes: keeping membership records up to have 80 reasons to celebrate! We are grateful for date, emailing the e-News Updates, mailing out their continued loyal service over many years: Janice our Newsletter and preparing name tags etc. for as our Librarian and Joel as a former Vice President, our events. Clay has also given well-prepared former Website & Computer Manager and current PowerPoint presentations of his travels to Lusatia to Committee member. our Society and to other family history groups. As the elder statesman on our Committee, he is a truly

Directory Aims: The Wendish Heritage Society Australia Inc., researches Office bearers: and promotes the Wendish/Sorbian and Germanic heritage and President: Betty Huf, PO Box 26, Tarrington, Vic 3301 family history in Australia. Tel: 03 5572 4959 Email: [email protected] Postal Address: P.O. Box 4050, Box Hill South, Victoria 3128 Vice-President and Computer and Website Consultant: Meeting Room and Research Centre: St Aidan’s Community John L. Modra, 24 Moore St, Colac, Vic 3250 Tel: 0488 219 252 Centre, 12 Surrey St, Box Hill South, Victoria. (Melway 61 C1) Email: [email protected] Hours: By appointment. Please contact the Secretary. Secretary: Glenys Wollermann, 22 Bellara Street, Doncaster, Vic 3108. Tel: 03 9891 6652 Our Society Logo: The logo, an Australian gum leaf and a Email: [email protected] Lusatian linden leaf, represent the connection between the Treasurer: Robert Wuchatsch, Stony Rises Homestead, Wendish descendants in Australia and the in Lusatia. 2020 Princes Hwy, Pirron Yallock, Vic 3249. Membership & Newsletter Subscription: $35 for single Mobile: 0400 127 830 Email: [email protected] membership and $40 for joint membership for one calendar year due at the start of each year. The form is included in Committee Members: our September Newsletter for the following year. Additional Janice Blackburn: 2 Astley St, Lower Templestowe, Vic. donations can also be made for the expanding work of the 3107. Tel: 03 9850 5766. Librarian. Society and we thank most sincerely those of you who have made such generous donations. Joel Blackburn: same address as Janice Blackburn. Mary Cooper Publicity: We welcome any publicity which you can give about our Society and its planned events. Clay Kruger: Good Shepherd Retirement Village, Unit 16/1–5 City Road, Ringwood, Vic 3134 Newsletter Design: Robyn Zwar Design, Tel: 03 8838 8737 Email: [email protected] www.robynzwardesign.com Beryl Nagorcka: 39 Kenilworth Crescent, Glen Waverley, Newsletter Editor: Glenys Wollermann Vic 3150 Tel: 9802 6487 Email: [email protected] Librarian: Janice Blackburn Moira Nagorcka: same address as Beryl Nagorcka. Email: [email protected]

Wendish Heritage Society Australia Inc ABN 78 951 996 351 Reg. A0031509R PO Box 4050, Box Hill South, Victoria 3128 Business Email: [email protected] Website: www.wendishheritage.org.au The Wendish Heritage Society Australia Inc. does not accept responsibility for the opinions expressed or the accuracy of the statements made by authors of articles published in this newsletter.

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